Texas Folklore Society
Unites the People of Texas and the Southwest
By Amanda Jenkins
The Texas Folklore Society—the oldest state folklore organization in operation in the United States—was founded on finding connections to history almost 115 years ago.
Like many before him, Bob Bluthardt ventured West and came to Texas looking for opportunity. Over forty years later, Bob is an acknowledged expert in baseball and Texas frontier history and is proud to call Texas home. He has served on the boards of many local and statewide organizations to include the Society for American
In the heart of East Texas lies a town steeped in history and the supernatural. Jefferson, Texas, known as the “Most Haunted Small Town in Texas,” offers visitors a spine-tingling experience like no other. One way to encounter this first-hand is to book an evening to go on the Historic Jefferson Ghost Walk, where history,
One of America’s most venerated haunted locations isn’t a house. There are no rooms with furniture shrouded in sheets, dark corners of Victorian-era parlors, or musty old stone basements filled with shadows. No, instead, it’s floating in Corpus Christi Bay, right off the coast. Known as the “Blue Ghost,” the USS Lexington was the Navy’s
Walk down the streets of Galveston past aging mansions and buildings where generations of people have walked before and you might feel a chill on a warm night, see movement in the shadows or hear a voice when no one is near. Is it a Gulf breeze playing tricks, or something else? There’s a saying
Looking for a fun way to add some “fright to your night?” Then hurry on over to Tablerock Festival of Salado’s Fright Trail! This popular Central Texas attraction has thrilled participants for over 18 years. In keeping with the Halloween spirit, Tablerock Festival of Salado’s one-half mile walking trail is transformed into a chilling yet
What carefully curated event combines local folklore, ghost stories, theater, comedy, and the documented history of Alpine, Texas? The award winning Historic Alpine Ghost Tours, held in the Alps of Far West Texas! Produced by the Historic Alpine Association (AHA) and the Sul Ross State University Fine Arts Department, the semiannual ghost tours are held
Carved from a humble beginning, today Flores Funeral Home stands among the Valley’s oldest businesses and among the most respected mortuary establishments. Epitacio Flores was originally a cabinet maker who began using his carpentry skills to make wooden caskets. Flores Funeral Home began in 1913 when Epitacio and his son, Jose R. Flores, founded “Agencia
There’s something ironic in celebrating Día de los Muertos in a ghost town. Yet every year, local and area residents as well as visitors from all points of the compass gather to honor the memory of those buried in the Historic Cemetery in the Terlingua Ghost Town. The cemetery reflects the starkness and the beauty
Texans typically like to be thought of as resilient, durable and able to withstand adversity. It’s no surprise then that the state’s official native shrub – purple sage – exhibits those traits synonymous with toughness. In all likelihood, most sons and daughters of the Lone Star State aren’t aware that Texas even has an official
There has been a serious resurgence in UFO interest recently. Now referred to as UAPs, or Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, everyone right up to national intelligence and defense officials are talking about them in the halls of Congress. Whether it’s legend, lore, tall tales, or real, Texas has long been a hotbed of UFO sightings for
Already proven entrepreneurs, Felipe and Celia Morales saw a need in Midland, Texas, for homemade Mexican food. Along with other family members, they operated several other businesses: a beauty salon, a barbershop, a record store and a financial and insurance company. However, Felipe and Celia decided to open a Mexican food restaurant. They traveled across
When Jake and Dorothy Roach opened their café in June of 1948, Harry Truman was president, and the latest inventions were the transistor radio and the polaroid camera. But the locals in Stephenville believe the most noteworthy invention in 1948 took place at Jake & Dorothy’s Café: the waffle fry. You’re really missing out if
Within just a six-month period Texas will experience two solar eclipses: the annual solar eclipse on October 14, 2023, and then the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. The next total solar eclipse will not occur in the United States until 2044. The annual eclipse in October will be a partial eclipse, where the
Is haunted historic? That’s the great question. We love haunted things – buildings, roads, lights, natural disasters, battlefields, cemeteries and many more. Ghost tours are very popular. Some folks study the paranormal and try to quantify very elusive legends. But is haunted also historic? Does a list of haunted places merit a “trail drive?” According
The Leahy brothers, Harry, and his younger brother Willie, were typical young cowboys in 1908 Texas, maybe a little brash and occasionally struck by a wild streak. Their family, with a long linage in Texas, were highly respected residents of Mathis and for many generations owned a ranch in San Patricio County. On one occasion,
A quick stroll around downtown Elgin will reveal several artistic gems that mirror the diverse and rich history of the town itself – including a variety of ghost signs. Also known as fading ads or brick ads, ghost signs are the old and usually fading advertisement painted on what are or were exterior walls. Vibrant
Texas has many tourist attractions, but one of the most valuable is right above our heads every night. As skies grow more light polluted in cities, many people yearn for a night under the stars away from the lights. Many parents want to show their children the Milky Way and the constellations that they remember
Tracing its history back to 1923, the Slaton Bakery is one of the oldest continuously operating bakeries in Texas. Three generations of dedicated bakers have made life sweeter for West Texans; today folks across the state can enjoy treats from this family that is still committed to quality and taste. The town of Slaton is
As we celebrate the centennial of Texas State Parks, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) is excited to share two of our online exhibits—as you plan your next trip, check out some history. Our digitized photographs, maps, state planning documents, and more are freely accessible online from anywhere, 24/7! Every Texan who has
Each October, Texas Archeology Month celebrates the state’s history and heritage through the lens of archeology. What started decades ago as a relatively small weeklong celebration, could not remain diminutive—not in the Lone Star State! The commemoration has grown into one of the biggest, if not the biggest, state celebrations of archeology in the country.
